Nucleus

One of my favorite galleries that I've found in the LA area. Nucleus focuses on production art for animation/games, and highlighting international artists that normally wouldn't get the time of day around more formal galleries. The panels and signings can be difficult to get into, but popping in on a weekday is usually fine, and there's plenty of parking in the Sprouts plaza on the opposite street. One thing I really enjoy is their specific art book lines that they put together for exhibitors - some of which you can only buy there for a limited print run. They do stock other art books from other publishers, but those ones are special.

This is my favorite art gallery in the greater LA area, including the big classical art galleries. It's great to have a place where the art from the entertainment industry, film, tv, video game, etc, can be celebrated. And where where you can get books full of art from the incredible artists who create it. You're also supporting people who are still alive and working. I really can't over state how much amazing art there is here. A must go for those visiting or living in the area.

Gorgeous exhibit and collection of art books and prints. I would recommend buying directly from the artists they support so you can possibly get better pricing, but if the price tags make sense for you the quality and handling of their prints is gorgeous. The people here really know how to curate a vibe and the other customers present in the space with me were kind and considerate despite how crowded the store was. I love the work they do, please go and support!

An awesome art gallery! I love that there’s always something new rotating in. I was especially glad to catch the Adventure Time: Fionna & Cake exhibit. It’s also very cool that you can buy artwork made by local artists such a great way to support a community!

If you're a fan of all things art, pop culture, and imaginative worlds brought to life, Gallery Nucleus deserves a visit whenever you're around the Alhambra area. They have a ton of events and exhibitions happening from time to time, collaborating from artists with various followings from all over the globe. Additionally, they also have their shop out in the front when you first step inside as well in case you're in the mood to expand or start a collection of talented artistry. Walking inwards, they have usually have three separate galleries split into the main open space out on the first floor, the stairway gallery, and the upstairs display where from there, you can oversee through their window down towards the entirety of Nucleus. Be sure to check out their website for any ongoing or upcoming celebrations as well since they usually decorate their interiors to match a certain theme.

Nucleus is a hybrid of art gallery and indie bookstore. The selection of books is as quaint as it is unique (many are self-published books) and the art gallery in the back has a fantastic selection of rotating artists that changes once about every month or so. Parking is easily found behind the Sprouts nearby and the prices for the books is beyond reasonable (they also have comic books, and anime and video game art books, a really complete selection!). The ambiance is nice and the one clerk was, at all times, helpful while letting people mind their own business and peruse the materials. Truly a 5/5 experience!

Neat place to visit for their rotating gallery. It's a gem of a gallery, and the best part is experiencing the exhibits for free. There are paid events and their selection of art books is of great quality. It's definitely worth supporting the people who make this place work.

Absolutely love this gallery. It’s an intersection of commercial-made art for studio work (think video games and anime) and those artist’s personal pieces made for critical mass consumers to enjoy. Be prepared to open your wallet for any number of Art Books, prints, pins, and other art related goods. I spent about $200 and pretty satisfied with my pieces. Note that there are products here that you can save a few bucks from by ordering off Amazon, but please support the gallery if you can since admission is free.

Fantastic time at the Kpop Demon Hunters Panel on October 18. Learned a lot about the cool behind the scenes and technical aspects of the movie. Getting the signatures of the animation, art and Production team was so cool. The 1 hour event ended up being 2 hours which went by so fast. They could have charged more for the event and I would have happily paid. The Nucleus staff was also very nice and the line wasn't super long! I was there at 12:50pm (event opened at 1pm) and I was about 10th in line. Lots of cool merch and prints for sale. I hope they host more KPDH events and their Patreon was very organized. Seeing the unreleased concept art in the gallery was really cool and wish I could buy it all for my house. One day... Lots of free parking in the back and there were Moonbridge donuts for sale too.

This is a hard review to write because part of my review is about the store and gallery itself, and the other part, which is the frustrating and upsetting part, is about the gallery as a venue hosting artists, events, and/or exhibits. Be seated please, because this is a long review. If you're looking for a TLDR, here it is: great bookshop and gift store (5 stars)...BUT, terrible management/founder-ship of the gallery when hosting ticketed events because of the treatment of fans, and lack of air circulating through the building despite stuffing people in like sardines (2 stars). If we're talking solely about the gallery located in Alhambra, CA, it is small but mighty, with a lovely curation of books from stunning art to whimsy. They also carry art prints and enamel pins by a lot of the artists in animation, gaming, book illustration, and entertainment industry. They're truly unique and one of a kind as a boutique book and gift shop. I would absolutely give this place 5 stars if it was merely about the shop. However, the gallery as a venue would be 2 stars. I have been to Gallery Nucleus for special exhibits and met artists and authors. This is something I appreciate about the gallery hosting more intimate events. A month ago, I went to an illustrator signing, and this was not a ticketed event. They hosted this specific artist on the second floor of the building, and I felt so awful for the artist, and the rest of the fans waiting in line. It was stuffy and hot. There was not enough air circulating. The artist was incredibly gracious and kind to the fans as he signed his art, but you could clearly tell he was sweating, and the staff kept bringing him water. Recently, I went to a ticketed event for a panel (phenomenal panel!), where there was an admission fee. I understand why so that the gallery could cap the number of people. In addition to this event, the policy was that only 2 items are allowed for signing per person with the panelists. The gallery sells merchandise for fans to purchase for the signing, and fans are going to support whoever it is they love. However, what I find a little messed up is, if an item is not purchased from the gallery, there is a $10 signing fee per item. While I think it's quite fair that the gallery must limit the items a fan can get signed to keep the line moving, there are major shortcomings of the gallery that I wish to address. This is towards management/founder about the way they host popular events. Yes, the gallery must keep the flow of traffic going for signing, but I didn't expect that fans who paid an admission fee, would be treated as if they're churned through a factory assembly line. I watched as people waited their turn, stood before the panelists, and even as they tried to talk to them, the employees were directed to push the fan's merchandise down the table. You can FEEL the rush and impatient energy of the staff as you play catch-up to your merchandise which has traveled ahead. I feel the gallery should be versed enough to host events where they can monitor and move people along in a better way that doesn't take the excitement out of these events for the fans. I would have thought that as a gallery with a vision to connect fans to this unique industry, it's ironic that they stole that joy from both the panelists and fans getting to connect. In addition to what I mentioned, the gallery packed the attendees in like sardines. I understand the small space and the need to maximize capacity with what they have, but the awful thing is, there was no air circulating. The venue was hot and stale as the panel went on. Several people shared that they had headaches because of the poor circulation. This is such a failure on the gallery's part, because this is not their first rodeo hosting. However, I fear that management/owner just hasn't cared to do better, because I came across a review in Jan. 2024, almost 2 years ago at this point, mentioning the same things I am mentioning now in my review. It is unfortunate that the gallery as a venue leaves a lot to be desired, because they technically are unique in what they're able to host, given their connection to the industry. However, with how attendees are treated, I find it hard to support the gallery directly and will now try to purchase merchandise from the artists themselves if it's possible. On a bit of a positive note, I want to recognize great customer service by Omar, one of the staff members, for his patience, warmth, and joy he brought when answering questions and imparting his knowledge. He was empathetic to many of the fans' plight during the ticketed event. While he had no power to change what has been the directive to him, I appreciate that he did his best to make fans still feel welcomed. That's a testament to his kindness and understanding of what a true fan feels in these moments. Thank you, Omar. And thank you to the wonderful artists who carve out time to try to connect with the fans.

Came here for the God of War opening night exhibition quite a while back, while I didn't hear good things about the food from the food truck that they decided to collaborate with, I'm a huge fan of this gallery. I come here every once in a while since it's pretty far away from me. And it's a gem! And I hope it's always around. They do really frequently exhibits of various different games/animations/series. Love the variety of artwork and art books they have from small and indie artists for pretty affordable prices, in my opinion. I'd personally avoid coming on an opening night because it just gets too crowded. It's definitely worth it to pay extra to grab tickets to see the panel/signing associate with it. Otherwise, I'd come after opening night to see the exhibition work without the crowds. There's a few parking spots in front of the store, but a structure nearby with plenty.

Nucleus is both an art gallery and shop that curates fun exhibitions and carries a variety of books, zines, posters and various goods. I've been eyeing a few books for quite some time and recently picked one up! If you enjoy cartoons, games or just art in general, you'll be pleased with what Nucleus has to offer. I've been to several exhibitions and have enjoyed each one and always look forward to their future exhibitions. When looking at the gallery, there are several microscopes available to look at the art pieces in detail. The gallery maximizes its art space by displaying artwork on both sides of the stairway and features artwork on the second floor as well. Nucleus is definitely worth checking out if you enjoy art or love unique reads.

I'm not a huge art person, but I thought this place was really cool. I really enjoyed the types of books and stationary offered here. Especially the hard-covered graphic novels. I'm glad there's a place like this in Alhambra! Let's support it and keep it open!

This is a neat art gallery that's easily accessible. You can park at the Sprouts plaza parking lot and walk here or if you're already walking through Main Street. The staff have always been friendly. They have multiple art exhibits throughout the year. And there's loads of art books and merch available. Some selections can be a bit pricy but I'm sure for some it's worth it.

Would definitely come back! It's a free mini art gallery plus bookstore. The books are art collection books, anime inspired books, and other unique artsy books you probably couldn't find anywhere else. They sell cute greeting cards and art prints too. The price point is high so that's expected. I would return for the art gallery located right behind the bookstore. It seems they rotate a featured artist every year or certain number of days. They also have a small upstairs section of the art gallery. I would return for the art gallery and to browse through the books if I'm in the area again.

I went to Gallery Nucleus yesterday. I had a great time. I went with the intention to check out the The Art of Arcane exhibit. I was impressed with what concept art I saw displayed for the exhibit. I thought it was also nice that fan art was included. I also checked out the Mythos exhibit upstairs briefly. I explored the gift shop and was happy to see a plethora of art books with some focusing on movies, shows, and video games. Towards closing hours, there was a live drawing session taking place on the first floor with an owl, falcon, and tegu as drawing subjects.

I first heard about this place from a Destiny 2 announcement and found out that this was a mini art gallery. I went on a Saturday afternoon and there was a decent amount of people inside. The venue was spacious with two floors. The upstairs/hall was smaller but gave a nice darker feel to match some of the destiny artworks and pieces on display. The front of the gallery was a store, selling what I assume to be extra merch from previous galleries. Overall it was a great experience, nice small spot to take a look at some art.

If you're a fan of all things art, pop culture, and imaginative worlds brought to life, Gallery Nucleus deserves a visit whenever you're around the Alhambra area. They have a ton of events and exhibitions happening from time to time, collaborating from artists with various followings from all over the globe. Additionally, they also have their shop out in the front when you first step inside as well in case you're in the mood to expand or start a collection of talented artistry. Walking inwards, they have usually have three separate galleries split into the main open space out on the first floor, the stairway gallery, and the upstairs display where from there, you can oversee through their window down towards the entirety of Nucleus. Be sure to check out their website for any ongoing or upcoming celebrations as well since they usually decorate their interiors to match a certain theme.

Nucleus is a hybrid of art gallery and indie bookstore. The selection of books is as quaint as it is unique (many are self-published books) and the art gallery in the back has a fantastic selection of rotating artists that changes once about every month or so. Parking is easily found behind the Sprouts nearby and the prices for the books is beyond reasonable (they also have comic books, and anime and video game art books, a really complete selection!). The ambiance is nice and the one clerk was, at all times, helpful while letting people mind their own business and peruse the materials. Truly a 5/5 experience!

Nucleus is an awesome art shop in the 626! Every time I come here, I always leave with a new art print for the crib! There is street parking around the area or also some parking lots for other businesses where you can park at as well. This spot is separated into 2 areas: the art and gift shop area and the art exhibition area. When you first walk in, you'll see all the goodies and art prints they have for sale. As you walk further into the store, you'll see the art exhibition they have on display. There is also an upstairs area where they'll have some bonus art displays to view. Overall, definitely stop by here if you want to support local artists and purchase some art prints for your space. They also have a website where you can browse the extensive list of prints they have for sale. Make sure to keep up with their social media to see when they'll have new exhibitions!

We went to nucleus for the monmon cats exhibit (running through 10/20/24!) and it was great! I find the opening days to be a little too crowded, but you are able to take a free self guided tour of the gallery during opening hours. Nucleus also has a large collection of zines and books as well as art prints and stickers. If you don't see what you're looking for, definitely ask the wonderful staff!

Nucleus Art Gallery is such a flex and cool art gallery in the heart of Alhambra on Main Street. There's plenty of free parking in the area. The Gallery is quite small, basically, one large room followed by a stairwell (with another gallery space along the walls) leading to a second floor for another gallery space exhibit. So they can hold about 3 different small exhibits, and I have to say I was really impressed with the exhibits! The curation is spot on! I do have to preface that I love art galleries and museums, and this is a stellar gallery. Walking around the area, it's sad to see so many empty spaces for lease. My wish is that the City of Alhambra can work with other nonprofits to create a museum row along Main Street that is of the same caliber as Nucueles, similar to when you go to Chinatown and find a row of various art galleries. Imagine all these empty storefronts turned into various galleries with different types of art and Friday or Saturday nights with art block parties. Just putting it out there. I bet the leases are high, but if the city can work out a contract to turn the area into a bustling art scene, it would be great for the community. Just my two cents and hope it can happen because Nucleus has set such a fantastic model of what more can be done in the area for the arts.

Just received an art book by Yoichi Nishikawa from Nucleus. The order arrived in perfect condition and very well packaged. Took around two weeks from Japan to Europe, which is perfectly acceptable. Happy to order again there.

sztuka: świetna! obsługa: świetna! cena: trochę droga... książki: świetna. pamiątki: świetna! ludzie: dobrzy. toalety? nie! strój: swobodny. parking: czasami dobry. jedzenie? nie! zwierzęta? proszę nie! czy poszedłbyś tam jeszcze raz? tak! czy poleciłbyś: pewnie. :^D

Came here specifically to see the solo exhibit by Yoichi Nishikawa. The art from Nishikawa that they hung up were absolutely breathtaking, the details and the color that went into each piece was stunning! It looks like there were two exhibits going on at the same time, one downstairs and the one upstairs was for Studio Ghibli. The gallery itself was a bit smaller than what I was expecting but I still had a good time nonetheless. They also sell a lot of merch and current and past prints of exhibits.

Going through university I changed majors often. I didn't know what interested me and even now I only want to do work I'm passionate about. So how happy was I to see a gallery right in the heart of SGV that not only sold aesthetically pleasing products regarding, art but utilized a significant amount of space to showcase artwork from several artists. The styling of the building is stark white with large windows at the entrance to help bring in as much light as possible. Looking at just the front section and you'll see professional books regarding different art techniques, stories of artists, and even children's books. You can see large posters of independent artists who made art for popular media like Disney films or anime series. Just this section alone could be a neat art store. However, walk past and you'll see a large space where rows of art are placed all around the walls at eye level. This is where the unique skills and creativity of different artists can take you to realms of homage or to their own imagination. On top of that, all art work has the name of the artist as well as a price so if you find something that tickles your fancy you can buy it (almost all priced range at $100). Some of the art I find to be captivating whilst others I find way too expensive but to each their own. I'm just happy there's a space where artists CAN showcase their passion AND get paid. Overall, a visit to Nucleus could be a short visit or an extended one with lengthy conversation, depending on who you're with. Though not a showcase destination it is a unique one where you'll leave with an impression. Whether looking for inspiration, killing time, or on a date I highly recommend checking it out.

I attended the meet & greet/autograph signing of artist Yusuke Kozaki and I very much appreciated that the staff here were friendly and polite while still maintaining the line for it in an organized fashion (quite refreshing as I've been to many similar events that were frustrating and chaotic). A minor critique though is that I wished that an English-Japanese translator assistant was present because communication with the artist was a little difficult. The establishment regularly includes limited-run exhibits of featured artists (some local and some from afar) as well as a shop section of primarily art books and prints. This place is definitely a must-visit if you're a collector of these items as the majority of them are not sold at major retailers. Check the business website as it's regularly updated with the constant flow of events held here. No-hassle free parking garage within close walking distance along Chapel Ave.

I love Nucleus! It's so nice to have an art gallery in the 626 area. They always put on the best exhibitions and their store sells prints from amazing artists. Some of my personal favorite shows were Gravity Falls and Owl House related. They also sometimes host Q and As with artists and show creators. They always have art up and even if I don't know the artist, I love what they showcase. I'm also a frequent shopper and follower of some of their artists. Not only is this a great gallery but it's the perfect place to find a unique gift for someone! There are art prints, art books, kids' gifts, enamel pins, merch and more! I highly suggest checking them out.

this gallery has been a part of dt alhambra for a while now and continues to provide a space to get inspired and even meet renowned artists! the gallery is free to check out, and they carry a good collection of books and prints at the gift shop/front desk, where the staff is always friendly and welcoming. much of the art on display is available to purchase. especially love seeing the works of local artists/enthusiasts!

My wife and I went to the Disney 2D animation shop and it was awesome. Hopefully they more shops in future . The museum itself it's nice , lots of pop animation art . Really cool

Awesome place for prints! The staff was very helpful. The selection of artists to choose from is excellent and prices for all budgets.

This review has been long overdue since I've been frequenting this place for more than a decade. I've always had a positive experience each time I've visited Nucleus as the workers are helpful and friendly while the art pieces they have on rotation are so beautiful. This is a small gallery that supports independent artists and their exhibits are usually (if not, always) free!! Once in awhile, they have book signings and panels for movies/shows. I also love taking a look at their book store as there's always something cool to check out there too. Oh, and if you check in with Yelp for the first time, you get a discount. A hidden gem in Alhambra that's worth the visit!!

If you're a fan of anime style art or hand drawn (+ digital) art, this is your place! They have a lovely rotating gallery area showcasing different artists, If you're a collector, there are plenty of prints and books and other paraphernalia available to purchase. I always visit for new wall art and unique gifts and never come away disappointed.

I remember going to this gallery back when 6%DOKIDOKI had their event, years ago. It was a fun night with food trucks outside, a fashion show/dance, and many Harajuku street fashion enthusiasts dressed to the tee. I just recently went again earlier in the year when there was the Mirai movie exhibit with other works from Wolf Children/The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, etc. Unfortunately, no photos were allowed. Just recently I went to the Atlus: Persona & Catherine exhibit. I'm not a fan of the series but it was nice to see official artwork and some fan arts as well. The displays are nice and you have the opportunity to purchase some prints from the store area in the front. Just an FYI, keep track of their social media to know what events are going to go on because they have special guests, people cosplay or dress up, etc. These events can get sold out/capped/quite crowded. It's a nice place to drop by quickly and look around at the art for a bit when you're in the area. If there wasn't a game/anime related showing, I myself wouldn't go out of my way to go here. Taking a look at everything shouldn't take more than 30 minutes. FYI, 10% off any purchase with Yelp Check-In!

Whooooaaa this place is so cool! I think I've been here before but it for YEARS, so it was interesting to see how the space has evolved. Part of me has been really missing walking convention floors to look at art books and pins, stickers, records, etc, so this filled that niche really nicely. There's something really soothing about being able to pick through indie titles and follow favorite artists' work. I was here for a gallery event which was really nice, too! Great getting an opportunity to walk through the big open space and get close up and personal with the work that was on display. I was even able to secure a piece and they made the process of buying it really easy and kinda sweet - they let me put in the push pin for the piece I bought myself. All in all, I feel like I'm really excited to have an excuse to go back. Maybe for another show sometime soon? Definitely worth visiting and supporting!

Flashback Saturday: When I was a young yelp whippersnapper (4 years ago), Katie B. exposed this wonderful art venue to me and other old school yelpers with a yoga sesh. From that day on, I have periodically popped into the shop to see local artists' artworks. Yelp Check-in: 10% off purchase Cost: Free of charge! If you want to buy prints or books, it'll be out of your pocket. Events: You can check out their website: https://www.gallerynucleus.com/gallery/exhibitions to see what tickles your fancy. Ambiance/Venue Layout: Nice intimate art gallery with two levels ( FYI: The main exhibit is mostly in the ground floor) and a small gift shop in the front. Restrooms can be found on the second level. Art Gallery For Thought: Definitely a place to check out.

This is one of the places that I've been meaning to check out for awhile. Ensconced in a hip section of Alhambra this place has been showcasing works from artists for years. I dropped by today to check it out and saw many things I liked. Other than original artwork and prints for sale they have quite a few artbooks as well. Not as many as a bookstore since it is more niche for featured artists ranging from illustrators to designers to comicbook artists and sometimes these artists are all the above. They are kind of pricey but some of these artbooks were signed by the artists. The art gallery was on display and I thought they were alright. The main theme was the Marvel Cinematic Universe and all of the work was of the commercial variety which was okay but didn't blow my mind. Either way I bought an artbook before I left. Got to support the artists!

Nucleus Gallery offers a vibrant and eclectic collection of cards, gifts, art prints, and books that beautifully reflect Asian and Latin diversity. The rotating exhibits are a highlight, continually showcasing fresh and exciting works that captivate and inspire. However, the experience is somewhat marred by the unprofessionalism of the cashiers. During a recent visit, the large woman with nose ring behind the cash register responded to a simple hello with a rude, dismissive grunt to have another employ ring me up. She then proceeded to curse while guiding the other aloof cashier to print a simple receipt. Cool art but weird people.

Besides downtown Alhambra being a food hub, it has this gem! This gallery has 2 floors; the first floor has an art store and has artwork for Persona 5 (Japanese game). The second floor is where the new art exhibit is. I happened to come across this gem one day with a friend. I came on a special day since it was the opening reception for MALL Solo exhibition. They were serving drinks and the artist was there interacting with guests. The artist, MALL, is very talented and I was fascinated by her work. Her work depicts a boy and his two favourite animals (cats and fish). The exhibit was really beautiful and if you wanted to purchase the artwork, they sell the original and the prints. Recommended to check this out if you are both an anime and art fan. It reminds me of the artist alley at Anime Expo since we get to see new artist we wouldn't see elsewhere. If you want more details about gallery, check their website. They have a list of upcoming exhibits that I would definitely come back to check out.

I'll start this off by saying that the art space and merchandise available was very very good. Well worth it just to see all of that and buy some books and prints that can be hard to come by or aren't available anywhere else. My low score comes from a recent signing experience. I was at the first night of the spider-verse exhibit. I was excited because the flyers advertised a signing with artists from the movie in the first hour. I arrived and waited in line, eventually entered at around 6:45. Just in time to be part of the signing. Then I found out that the signing was limited to only the first 75 people. This represents a failure in properly communicating things to the attendees in their pre advertising because it was nowhere on any of their Instagram posts or flyers that saw that it would be limited in this way. It kind of ruined the entire experience for me. I'll probably come back at some point to properly enjoy the art, but for something that was touted as an *event* with a great perk in coming early only to get this outcome. (Pictures attached so you can see the messaging I saw and how the signing limitation wasn't properly communicated).

If you go to Anime Expo or Comic-Con, you may like this place - take away the crowd and long lines, and replace them with a relaxed environment where you can dive deep into mainstream, as well as emerging artists works at your own pace and Leisure. Great selections of pins, prints, and beautiful books!! No cos-players (not usually) here but often they have art exhibits in the gallery space behind the store. Definitely a one-of-a-kind and unique place; always a joy to visit.

Awesome staff. Really beautiful artwork and great selection of merchandise. Please support this really spectacular spot!!!

I feel that Gallery Nucleus is one of those rare and wonderful establishments that have been able to be a conglomeration of fun, educational, and inspiring. With its unassuming storefront on Main Street, you are sometimes a bit surprised of the size of the storefront plus the other part of that first floor that is typically for their gallery and special events. In addition, they also have a good-size room upstairs that is typically an expansion of the gallery. The main events that I have personally been here for has been for Pinpalooza and their seasonal sales. I have tried to come during Disney events (like when Beauty and the Beast's live-action movie came out) or when there were arts inspired by _insert event_ (e.g., Studio Ghibli), but those events tend to have huge numbers of attendees, especially on opening night. And, with Gallery Nucleus being a distance away from where hubby and I are located, we would rather not try to deal with the craziness. That being said, there are always a few goodies after those events that can still be grabbed, such as prints, tshirts, pins, books (sometimes autogaphed!), etc. Parking is doable, but I'm sure it's a bit more difficult during events. DON'T PARK AT THE BANK; I believe there's a parking lot behind the bank's parking lot that can be used; otherwise, there is street parking. You can expect prices of anything to be MSRP or $5 above MSRP if it's a signed book. Original artwork is priceless, so those will always have a higher dollar price tag. The store itself is clean and chic, and fairly well stocked for the size that it is. The staff has always been courteous and helpful. Probably one of my favorite go-to places in the area.

Stopped by for the Hong Seok Goh balloon exhibit which was located in the back of the store. The storefront consisted of an assortment of books and hipster items. Reminded me of a Kid Robot store. Didn't get a chance to browse the items but the balloon exhibit was so fun. Free entry was a nice surprise. Will be back for more and to check out the little trinkets!

I'll start by saying that this is a nice small venue where they often hold events to meet beloved artists and such. They have a variety of artwork, art books, and trinkets available for purchase and even limited edition items only sold through them. I've been to quite a few nucleus events, and it's a gamble each time whether I will enjoy myself or not due to poor customer service. I remember buying 2 stickers from here one time, and the prices were not labeled on them. When I was wrung up the total came out to about $20 which was DOUBLE when I compared it to the artist's website! And the lady wringing me up had the most stern look and felt very annoyed. I asked her a question about the artists of the stickers and honest to God she made me feel stupid. I understand customer service jobs can get annoying, but when I was shopping, there was absolutely no one in the store. I wasn't fumbling with anything; I just wanted to take a look around. I'm not saying you need to have a smile on your face when wringing me up, but don't bring the vibe of customers being a nuisance to you at the checkout line. As for events, sometimes Nucleus does this thing where they offer posters and a signing from producers, directors, and artists. The one thing that absolutely ANNOYS ME is that at multiple events I have attended with these posters, I have witnessed the manager YANK these posters out of people's hands for the artists to sign and be handed back to the customer. I'm pretty sure it was to speed up the signing process... but what the hell? Dont oversell tickets if you're going to cram us in and try to speed us out. At that point, just have the poster pre-signed?? The whole point of having the poster signed individually is to get a feeling of connection with the artists that inspires you, and i feel like that experience was ripped away from both me and many others. Why have us stand in line waiting for the artist to sign the poster at all?? Whenever he does this at events, it really ruins the whole event for me. Another thing that the manager does, if he doesn't rip the poster from your arms, is that he will HOVER over you like a hawk while you're getting your items signed. I feel like I've seen people talk only a few sentences before Ben starts GLARING darts into their backs... fans will never know peace or enjoyment with their favorite artists if he keeps rushing people. It's annoying and it ruins the experience for fans. Another thing about these events is that YOU WILL GET SLEEPY if the panel lasts for over an hour. This is because the ventilation SUCKS and after an hour of a packed room, there is like... no oxygen... It gets stuffy and they turn on the fans way too late. It becomes difficult to keep your eyes open, even if your favorite artists are right in front of you. It's unfortunate, but because gallery nucleus is literally THE venue for artists and fans to meet, you wont find many other options for amazing events at a reasonable price. It makes it difficult to support nucleus directly and makes me prefer to order works from the artists themselves. I've noticed the newer employees are much nicer and friendlier so if you must, try speaking to them instead. I have no idea if nucleus will change any of their practices, but if they take even a sliver of this critique to heart, it would definitely be for the better.

I have the utmost respect for this place. They give back to the community and local artists, plus it's a super date spot. I've been here a couple of times before and it's always really nice to look at the artwork that's made by the artists that contribute. I always wanna buy the artwork because there's plenty to choose from, especially my favorite - the disney artwork. This most recent time, it was a pug exhibit and it was really cute! Overall, I do enjoy coming to this place both as a cute date idea to explore the different art/exhibits and I hope to buy a bunch of artwork for my studio apartment as well!

I went to Nucleus on Saturday night, for the opening reception of Matt Forsythe's exhibition, which is on view until May 13. I know Matt, and am also a huge fan of his work (I own an original painting, and it's just terrific). It was great to see so much of it in person, after following his various social media feeds for years. He was also there to sign things and hang out. This was my first time visiting Nucleus, and I was impressed with the space, which was part bookstore and part art gallery. The bookstore section was smaller, confined to the front area, basically the gift shop portion of a museum. The gallery was spacious and open, with a large downstairs and a smaller upstairs area for special exhibits. There was some kind of group show in the downstairs gallery, and this was where the bar and signing area were set up for the reception. Matt's solo show was upstairs, a full room devoted to his artwork. It was really cool to see so many of his pieces in one place. There were several paintings and illustrations related to his picture book art. The group show was fun, too. It struck me as very anime-inspired, which was in keeping with the feel of the gallery. Nucleus reminded me of Giant Robot, which is always worth a visit. The bookstore had tons of interesting prints and art books and other visually pleasing gift items. I bought a couple of Matt's picture books and got them signed. He was signing with a few other artists, one of whom was live drawing some kind of dragon on a big piece of paper behind the signing table. Pretty cool. I love any business that supports and props up artists, and Nucleus is a fun one, with both a nifty bookstore and an attractive gallery space. If this reception was any indication, the place is a hub for artists and fans. I enjoyed my visit, and would recommend Nucleus to even casual art fans. It's worth seeking out for a show, and definitely merits a drop-in browse when in Alhambra.

Hands down my favorite gallery of all time! I've been going to this place before they moved east of main Street. They always have the hottest new books and they have rare finds they buy directly from artists you wouldn't have even gotten to know! This place really is something special! I've bought many books here and come by many a time to see their shows: and I've always enjoyed them! They host many local artists in the digital and traditional field as well as host shows that do panels on television and animation- How awesome is that?? I've gotten to meet Rebecca Sugar (Steven universe creator) and Alex Hirsch (gravity falls creator) because of the great team at Nucleus! As well as supplying my many many artbooks They recently had Pin-Pal-Pooloza which was an event that hosted artists that supplied a range of enamel pins!! They always think of creative and interesting events, and change shows frequently. The girls that I always see there (Thalia and Mara) are always very kind and helpful when I need something...! As an avid artbook collector this place always has books I'm envying for-! I've also found other amazing artists through this gallery. This is a place for concept designers, animators, and illustrators to really appreciate the art featured here. As long as this place stays open I'll come running through those glass doors!

Absolutely love this place. Appreciate all the amazing events they would host (precovid). Especially the pin expo! Right now they're doing appointment only for people interested in coming in due to COVID. But you get some serious VIP treatment if you book. I called day of and they were really nice about letting me come in that day. Great great items and amazing people. They bring an awesome community together.

This place carries not only cute little toys for grown ups to collect and play with but also shirts and books and other misc things you can purchase. I'm not a huge fan of anything that's related to art so I can't say much about their books or exhibits. They have a huge space in the back where they hold different exhibits where they latest one was about Harry Potter. Pretty cool if you ask me! I like to buy these little characters that comes in a small box. You have no idea which character you'll be getting until you purchase and open it. (see Picture) I named him Snorkie!!! I also have another one that's holding an automatic gun dressed as a cow. So cute an adorable! I also bought these garden match sticks where you stick it into soil and watch three different types of herbs or veggies sprout. Too bad it didn't quite work out the way I hoped using my Jiffy garden kit. 4.5 stars!!!

They don't accommodate anyone. They're not law enforcement friendly either.. not surprised. They do carry a big variety of items that you can also find on Amazon for cheaper. Whenever they have sign-in events, they're completely chaotic. The website crashes within seconds of opening, it's honestly a show trying to get tickets therefore, I'm just not ever going back again. I've been buying my stuff on Amazon and going to panels where I can meet the artist/creators/producers and have my items signed... there's always comic con or any con you can meet these artists. No need to be degraded at a small venue you're trying to support. No thanks!

Today was the first time that I came to this art gallery and I gotta admit, it was pretty cool. So first off, the reason why I was here is because of the Harry Potter Art Gallery. I didn't know what to expect or how many people would be there. But damn they had some good promoters or something because the line was out the door wrapped around the building and into the parking lot to the back. All the art work blew my mind! If the artwork I wanted wasn't in the $1000 range I probably would've gotten one. The setup of this place was pretty cool. In the front had the Nucleus merchandise such as shirts and posters. In the back they of the store they had all the Harry Potter art work up on the walls. And they even had a huge Voldemort thing in the middle. They also had a picture area where you could pose on the side. Upstairs they had even more Harry Potter art work. And upstairs is where they had all the drinks such as: Beer, Water, and Beerbutter. YUP! THATS RIGHT! BEERBUTTER! lol. And I must say, the alcoholic beerbutter was pretty damn tasty. My cousin didn't even want to finish her drink because she liked it so much. They also had a Harry Potter weird jelly bean station next to the drinks. And service was excellent! For how many people were lined up outside, and how packed the inside got, the staff did not look stressed at all. Kept a smile on their face and was ready to entertain the crowd. And they also handled the crowd very well. They had just enough people inside the store that you aren't trying to push through everyone to get somewhere. All in all, it was a good experience. And I can't wait to see what the future has in store for Nucleus. Oh yeah. And Props to everyone that dressed up.. Ya'll are awesome! lol http://www.flickr.com/photos/so_kal/sets/72157627034293903/ my pictures from the HP Art Show event

This is one of my favorite galleries in the Los Angeles area. Their monthly art exhibits feature a lot of local artists working in the animation world, and it's nice to see a venue supporting it all. They have a nice shop in the front and their gallery space itself is of good size allowing for the art to shine and not feel cramped. Many books (signed by these local artists themselves) and art prints are for sale. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. I recently went for a Final Fantasy art exhibit and they have merchandise related to that franchise for sale. I love where it's located, on Main St, and the little downtown area is so cute. Parking isn't usually hard to find either. I always look forward to their monthly events and occasionally check their websites go see what's on sale if I can't make the trek out there.

Very impressed with the Children Art Show. Each art work is very unique and beautiful. Staff here is so nice. Big indoor space keeps good social distancing. Will definitely come back!

I think anyone interested in conceptual art, illustration (2D and 3D), fantasy art, and anything of that like can REALLY appreciate this modestly sized yet substantive gallery for not only offering an outlet for artists to display or sell their work, but also an haven for those interested in these sorts of arts to enjoy it in person. In addition, Nucleus also hosts forums, artist meet and greets, and presentations of artwork related to the newest movies or video games. Besides prints, this place also offers a bunch of fairly expensive (and sometimes imported) art books and uniquely hip knick knacks. Most people will probably wander around the first floor (it's really just one big square room), but there is a smaller second floor too with more art to look at. Alhambra is lucky to have this gem of a gallery.

Fun store. The kids and I enjoyed the exhibit. Friendly staff and good service and a nice assortment of art books and fun gifts.

Really cute and intimate gallery concept. The shop part of the gallery is super cute and has some great finds!